University of Connecticut Athletics
University of Connecticut
24-10,13-5Big East
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North Florida
25-8,12-4ASUN
UConn Tops North Florida, 3-1, to Secure Spot in NIVC Final Four
12/8/2021 9:29:00 PM | Women's Volleyball
STORRS, Conn. – Hosting a playoff game for the first time, the UConn women's volleyball team punched its ticket to the NIVC Final Four after defeating North Florida, 3-1, Wednesday night at Gampel Pavilion in a quarterfinal matchup.
With the win, the Huskies will head to Indiana for a semifinal matchup at Valpo at Friday, Dec. 10 at 8 p.m.
UConn (24-10, 13-5 BIG EAST) was fueled by a standout night from sophomore Taylor Pannell, who lined a career-high 16 kills and added in five blocks. Senior Caylee Parker was stellar with 14 kills and junior Allie Garland also reached double digits kills with 10. Graduate student McKayla Wuensch notched her second straight double-double with 44 assists and 18 digs while junior Karly Berkland went for 15 digs.
Down 10-6 in the opening set to North Florida (26-7, 12-4 ASUN), the Huskies worked their way back to make it a two-point match at 21-19. Wuensch went for a setter dump before Pannell ripped back-to-back kills to give UConn its first lead since opening point. The Ospreys took the ensuing two points, but Pannell started a 3-0 run to close out the frame as the Huskies earned the opening set.
Once again, North Florida produced a hot start as it seized a 10-4 edge to kick off the second stanza. Senior Kennadie Jake-Turner went for a swing from the right side and Parker followed from the opposite side to give recharge the attack. Junior Madi Whitmire delivered back-to-back services aces to make it a 18-13 game as UConn remained within five. Senior Anna Petrova ripped a kill from the outside and followed with an ace to cut the deficit to four, 23-19, but North Florida wouldn't let the Huskies get any closer at it evened the match.
The third set went toe-to-toe until the Ospreys started to pull away with an 11-6 advantage. Pannell bookended a 5-1 spurt to get the Huskies within one until North Florida went up 16-12. Working its home court advantage, the Huskies caught fire, using a 9-2 run to pull ahead 21-18. Parker kept the momentum on UConn's side with two straight swings before Garland and Pannell teamed up for a block to seal the set, 25-21.
Down 4-0 to start the fourth set, the Huskies stormed back to tie it three times until taking the lead for good. Trailing 12-11, Parker started a 6-0 run that charged a packed Gampel crowd and forced the Ospreys to burn a timeout. With their season on the line, North Florida cut the deficit to one at 22-21, but Parker returned the momentum with a kill and Wuensch capped a 3-0 run to seal the match.
